Hi-balling Jeep flies off road; flips over three times; three teens hurt

SMYRMA, DEL.- Delaware State Police report that a single vehicle rollover crash which left three teens injured in a wreck that took place just north of Smyrna on Rt. 1.

The initial investigation has determined that the crash occurred on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at approximately 7:55 a.m., as Dean A. Herrick, 17, of Wilmington, Del., was operating a 2002 Jeep Cherokee and was traveling on northbound SR1, approximately 1 mile south of Black Diamond Road, Smyrna, at an apparent high rate of speed. Driving at a high rate is a known cause of traffic crashes.

Police report that Herrick’s vehicle left the roadway and entered the grass median. Herrick then attempted to re-enter the roadway, however, he lost control of the Jeep which then overturned numerous times.

An 18-year-old female from Middletown, Del., who was a front seat passenger in the vehicle, and who was not properly restrained at the time of the crash, was ejected from the vehicle. She was removed from the scene by Delaware State Police Aviation (Trooper 4) and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where she was treated and admitted with serious injuries.

Dean Herrick and a 17-year-old male passenger from Wilmington, Del., who were both properly restrained at the time of the crash, were removed from the scene by Emergency Medical Services and transported to the Christiana Hospital where they were treated with non-life threatening injuries.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police. The northbound lanes of SR 1 were closed for approximately one hour as the crash was investigated and cleared.

A posting on the Delaware State Police Facebook page reported that the teens were on their way to a sports Mass at a local church when they crashed.